IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz
commented Wednesday on the current round of escalation between Israel
and the Gaza-based terror groups,
saying that the IDF
will "meet any attempt to infringe on Israel's security with force.

Gaza terrorists fired 65 rockets at Israel's western Negev communities since Wednesday morning. The current round of escalation has seen roughly 100 rockets fired at Israel. "We will meet any threat, any time," Gantz said.

The Air Force conducted two strikes on terror hubs in Gaza Strip in retaliation to the rocket fire.

The first strike targeted the terror cell responsible for Monday's attack
on the Israel-Egypt border. The IDF reported that at least one terrorist – affiliated with Islamic Jihad
– was killed, and another was severely wounded.

Results of surgical strike in Gaza (Photo: AFP)

The second strike targeted two terror hubs in northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources reported that the strike hit the Nuseirat refugee camp, adding that there were no wounded.

The IDF Home Front Command has instructed residents of the area to remain in proximity to shelters and has temporarily barred any public gatherings of over 500 people.

Color Red alert and siren were heard across the entire region in the evening hours.

One rocket hit a hen-house in Hof Ashkelon Regional council; two others hit Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council and two others landed on the outskirts of Ashkelon. No injuries were reported in either case.

On Wednesday morning, a rocket salvo on the South resulted in a direct hit on a house in Sdot Negev Regional Council. No wounded were reported, but the structure sustained significant damage.

Gaza-based terrorists have been incessantly shelling western Negev communities since Tuesday afternoon, when over 40 Qassam rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel in the span of several hours.